Help: Bowed Neck Problems

Subject: Bowed Neck Problems
From: Banjoman_CO
Date: 17 Jun 00 - 11:31 PM

I play a long neck banjo. My question is this. When the neck bows away from the strings you can correct it by tightening the adjusting rod in the neck. But what about what I call a reverse bow. It bows toward the strings. Will loosening the adjusting rod correct this problem or does it take something more. Thanks for any comments.

Banjoman

Subject: RE: Help: Bowed Neck Problems
From: GUEST,flattop
Date: 17 Jun 00 - 11:48 PM

I don't know about banjos, but don't ever try to straighten a guitar neck by simply tightening the rod. You have to pull the neck a tiny bit at a time and tighten the nut a bit while you are pulling. Loosening, you may want to hold the pressure with your hand and legs and loosen the nut a bit at a time.

Subject: RE: Help: Bowed Neck Problems
From:
Date: 18 Jun 00 - 06:36 AM

If the neck adjustment rod is what is called a "truss rod" on a guitar, then the answer is yes. However flattop's advice about going a tiny bit at a time is good. I would suggest you loosen the tension on the strings before you try it too. If the banjo is valuable, you might find it pays to have a tecnician do the job. It won't take him/her long and shouldn't cost very much.

Murray